10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2021

There are many Big Year books about big Big Years–the United States, Great Britain, the world–but not many about books about state Big Years (listen to the April 2020 ABA Podcast with myself, Nate Swick and Frank Izaguirre for more on Big Year narratives).

Louisiana 264

Louisiana Species Mississippi Alabama 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

They are pretty much year round residents throughout the continental United States. Flickers have other strategies. But the all-time favorite flicker strategy is to scream like a slasher movie victim and fly straight at the person’s head.

Woodpeckers 217

Woodpeckers Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Seattle 217

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Though Ron is based in Ontario his reports are eagerly anticipated by birders across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada because it takes into account a vast array of data to figure out which irruptive species might show up where. Ron Pittaway has published his winter finch forecast for the winter of 2012-2013.

2012 204

2012 2013 Canada United States 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

However, Dr. Anton Wolfaardt and his team have developed a strategy based on similar projects that has been proven to work on islands around the world – cover the island with rodenticide-laced bait over several applications and pray to God that it reaches all the mice. Just get rid of the mice.

South Africa 261

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 261

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2014

Temporarily Kathi and Josh are back in the United States resting, refueling, and planning the South American portion of their journey. Being quiet and patient and letting the birds move around and reveal themselves is usually the best strategy. Their first contribution to 10,000 Birds is here. Their second is here.

San Diego 182

San Diego South America Costa Rica America 182

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

The final species tally for the four day blitz was 186 ABA-countable species, an impressive total in winter for any location in the United States. We recorded 17 Short-tailed Hawks this past weekend, a winter specialty in Miami-Dade. Song Sparrow is a genuine rarity in Miami-Dade. This Lincoln’s Sparrow is far more common.

Miami 165

Miami 2015 United States Birds 165

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Engineers, airport managers, and wildlife authorities have devised a number of strategies. But one that hasn’t been widely adopted, at least in the United States, is avian radar, according to a recent New York Times op-ed. Whither the solutions to this dangerous (for all parties involved) problem?

Netherlands 193

Netherlands Illinois Washington 193

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Gooddie describes his quest in terms of a contest of wills and strategy. Hopefully, the publication of The Jewel Hunter in the United States will spur additional attention to this family and the need for rain forest preservation and ornithological study. One must “out-think” the bird.

Hunters 187

Hunters Sri Lanka Asia Solomon Islands 187

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

I think every naturalist in the United States knows the outlines of this urban tale: The pristine marshes of New Jersey are poisoned by pollution, toxic waste, pig farms, and probably every single way in which human beings can destroy the environment. The Nature of the Meadowlands is a celebration of an environmental success story.

New Jersey 142

New Jersey Legislation Mammals Pigs 142

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2021

Description and drawing (from Ridgway) of a Broad-billed Hummingbird nest from Handbook of birds of the western United States, including the great plains, great basin, Pacific slope, and lower Rio Grande Valley by Florence Merriam Bailey, 1902. Harris Hawks are monogamous and polyandrous and the female is the primary nest builder.

Eggs 220

Eggs Birds United States Sparrows 220

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

COVID-19 was the worst of it but we also endured horrific wildfires, tremendously damaging hurricanes, another year of the worst President of the United States in history, and the list could go on ad infinitum. 2020 will be remembered as a year that we’d like to forget. I saw the Cuckoo the second day of its visit.

2020 221

2020 Birds Germany Costa Rica 221

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2022

True to form, the United States Department of Agriculture seems less concerned about the health or status of Yellow Bitterns and more about managing the birds on Guam to minimize threats to aviation safety. But I am grumbling a little bit about it.

Birds 179

Birds Sparrows Protection Humane 179

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

The Crossley ID Guide: Waterfowl covers every residential, migrating, vagrant, exotic, and introduced swan, goose, dabbling and diving duck in North America (Canada and the United States): 62 Species Accounts on four swan species and one vagrant subspecies; 15 goose species; 46 duck species; plus accounts for hybrid geese, ducks and exotics.

Ducks 114

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 114